Transitioning While Teaching in a University

[Gabrielle_22]

Have any of you transitioned while teaching any level of school? I'm specifically curious about teaching college undergraduates, since I am a PhD student who teaches undergrad lit as a TA, but any pedagogical anecdote or experience here would be welcome. I am pre-HRT and am just beginning steps towards transitioning. I have two to three more years of university to go, and at least two of those will likely involve teaching undergraduates. But I am nervous about presenting as female while teaching--I have never done so before--and would be happy if anyone here has any advice about "coming out" as a trans* to a class. I do not necessarily plan to come out to the class I am teaching right now, but I would like to walk in on day one of an upcoming semester as Gabrielle--the real me. My fears are students disrespecting me, conservative parents not wanting a transwoman teaching their students and filing complaints, and my appearance--specifically, the disjunction between my voice and my relatively passable female appearance--causing a disruption of attention in the classroom.

I have contacted the chair of my department, and he has been very supportive; however, I am the first trans* student he has met here, and he was unsure at the time of our meeting how policies about changing my name, bathroom use, etc. would be implemented or used. My university has a nondiscrimination policy that includes gender identity, so I am at least legally protected by name, but the specifics of that protection are not clearly delineated. I am only out to a few close friends and faculty members and am planning to come out gradually over the course of this semester and the next. While I am a little worried about how some persons in my department will respond to me, the general tenor has been supportive. My biggest fear is with teaching. And I love teaching, so I don't want to have to take time off or to teach online or to hide myself from my students.

I do have other problems--the largest being that I go to university in Florida but live in a fairly homophobic Caribbean island and am not out to most of my family, and I fear I will be shunned, attacked, or--it is quite possible--killed if I out myself and return home. Already, my mother has been suicidal over my coming out to her and refuses to believe--largely out of her Catholocism--that being transgender is even possible for anyone. So I must balance coming out to my university department and my students with discretion as far as my family goes. One day I will come out to everyone, but not right this minute. I am afraid of losing my family and of causing something bad to happen to my mother because she hates to think of me as anything but her son. But I just cannot go through with the ruse of being cis-male anymore. I am prepared to take risks and live in exile if I must...as much as this makes me cry almost every time I tell someone about the blueblack future I see ahead.

But teaching is the most immediate issue. If anyone has experience or information to share, I would love to hear it. Thank you in advance for your time.

[suzifrommd]

I'm a high school teacher. I transitioned before the start of last school year. The whole story is in https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,131762.0.html. TL;DR: It went fine. Students accepted me. Only person who ever misgendered me was myself.

Have you read "She's not there"? Jennifer Boylan transition while a college professor, though she doesn't spend much time talking about her transition in the classroom. Like mine, I think hers was a non-event to the students.

[cindianna_jones]

I had a friend who transitioned at the University in Austin Texas. She seemed to do well and had little difficulty. This was over twenty years ago.

[Arch]

I transitioned on the job in California. Students misgendered me constantly while I was going through my androgynous phase, but that didn't last long. My department gave me unqualified support, and I know of no parental complaints. If you have any questions about my experience, I'll be happy to answer them.

Of course, I imagine that you would prefer responses from MTFs. It's different for most FTMs.

[ImagineKate]

A friend of mine is a professor and high school teacher. She transitioned on the job and is more or less out. She gets misgendered a lot but she doesn't seem to care. She is older (>50)

[Brenda E]

I think unless you're a professor at Liberty University or some other religious "college", it should be a very easy transition.  IIRC - and it was a while ago since I was in college or grad school - those kinds of environment are extremely open to diversity (on the surface, at least).  The students, for sure, should be the least of your worries, and most would think it was pretty cool.

[Kaydee]

Have any of you transitioned while teaching any level of school? I'm specifically curious about teaching college undergraduates, since I am a PhD student who teaches undergrad lit as a TA, but any pedagogical anecdote or experience here would be welcome. I am pre-HRT and am just beginning steps towards transitioning. I have two to three more years of university to go, and at least two of those will likely involve teaching undergraduates. But I am nervous about presenting as female while teaching--I have never done so before--and would be happy if anyone here has any advice about "coming out" as a trans* to a class. I do not necessarily plan to come out to the class I am teaching right now, but I would like to walk in on day one of an upcoming semester as Gabrielle--the real me. My fears are students disrespecting me, conservative parents not wanting a transwoman teaching their students and filing complaints, and my appearance--specifically, the disjunction between my voice and my relatively passable female appearance--causing a disruption of attention in the classroom.

I don't have any advice, but am in the same situation - except I am in my 50's and have been teaching at mu university for 25 years.   I think some people are going to be surprised!

I am told that the university administration is open to trans issues, but they don't mention gender issues in their non-discrimination policy.   Supposedly this is in the process of changing, but I am going to have to decide whether it is worth waiting for them to make the change.  I do know I will be the first trans professor at the school.   

I have contacted the chair of my department, and he has been very supportive; however, I am the first trans* student he has met here, and he was unsure at the time of our meeting how policies about changing my name, bathroom use, etc. would be implemented or used. My university has a nondiscrimination policy that includes gender identity, so I am at least legally protected by name, but the specifics of that protection are not clearly delineated. I am only out to a few close friends and faculty members and am planning to come out gradually over the course of this semester and the next. While I am a little worried about how some persons in my department will respond to me, the general tenor has been supportive. My biggest fear is with teaching. And I love teaching, so I don't want to have to take time off or to teach online or to hide myself from my students.

I am slowly coming out to people in my department and am trying to determine my timing.  I am in a conservative area, so I can see my change in gender presentation being a problem for the more conservative students (parents).  I know we have a number of trans students, and they seem to be accepted by the other students on campus - so that at least is a good sign.

Do you have something like an LGBT group on campus?  They might be able to give you a better idea of how you will be accepted on campus and let you know if there are trans students and how they do there.

I do have other problems--the largest being that I go to university in Florida but live in a fairly homophobic Caribbean island and am not out to most of my family, and I fear I will be shunned, attacked, or--it is quite possible--killed if I out myself and return home. Already, my mother has been suicidal over my coming out to her and refuses to believe--largely out of her Catholocism--that being transgender is even possible for anyone. So I must balance coming out to my university department and my students with discretion as far as my family goes. One day I will come out to everyone, but not right this minute. I am afraid of losing my family and of causing something bad to happen to my mother because she hates to think of me as anything but her son. But I just cannot go through with the ruse of being cis-male anymore. I am prepared to take risks and live in exile if I must...as much as this makes me cry almost every time I tell someone about the blueblack future I see ahead.

But teaching is the most immediate issue. If anyone has experience or information to share, I would love to hear it. Thank you in advance for your time.

Sorry, I can't offer you any real advice.  There is some good advice above.  Most colleges are quire open to LGBT issues and stress diversity on the campus.   Good luck in moving forward as Gabrielle

[Cindy]

I went from him to her between two lectures. The only question I got was from a female student who wanted to know where I had bought my boots as she liked them. I didn't tell the Uni I was transitioning I just did it.

I was given an award for my teaching the same year and the medal had my new name engraved on it.

The only change I noticed was that I am now included in the female staff forum.

[Jessica M]

Being a young trans woman about to embark on a PhD the replies to this post are really encouraging. I knew there was something about academia I liked, besides the thirst for knowledge

[Kaydee]

I went from him to her between two lectures. The only question I got was from a female student who wanted to know where I had bought my boots as she liked them. I didn't tell the Uni I was transitioning I just did it.

Wow, Cindy, that is inspiring! I don't know that I could do that, but it gives me a new freedom to speculate.

I was given an award for my teaching the same year and the medal had my new name engraved on it.

What - they weren't worried about setting a precedent?

[Cat]

Being a young trans woman about to embark on a PhD the replies to this post are really encouraging. I knew there was something about academia I liked, besides the thirst for knowledge

This is where I hope to be next year also, so I agree! :3


I have spoken to the staff at my university and heard several stories about staff members at other UK universities who transitioned successfully and had no trouble at all with their students, even going as far back as the 1980s.  They're not my anecdotes, but they echo the general feeling that academia is not a bad place to be while transitioning. 

Sorry I can't be much help, Gabrielle -- other than to say that my own reception by my peers as a student has been wholly positive thus far, albeit that I live in another country -- but I do wish you all the best, and I hope good things may come of it that will brighten that future some for you. Sending hugs. x

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

I am a uni lecturer.  My experience was amazingly positive. 

[Jane's Sweet Refrain]

I transitioned while teaching at a university and the response from students and colleagues has been positive as much as it has been without incident. A number of factors might have made a difference, but I certainly don't want to suggest that they did. I chose to complete my transition over the summer and did not go full time until hrt had done its work on me. In this, my second year bieng full-time, no student has even mentioned my former identity and only a couple of colleagues have alluded to it (by doing insensitive things like asking me if I've read Jennifer Finny Boylan, to which I've learned to respond, "why would you ask?")

I imagine that my biggest anxiety in your position would not be with teaching my classes, but with my job prospects as a transwoman. But had I been in the same mental frame you are when I was doing my PhD, I would not have let that anxiety deter me. Not one bit. You should not either.

[Arch]

only a couple of colleagues have alluded to it (by doing insensitive things like asking me if I've read Jennifer Finny Boylan, to which I've learned to respond, "why would you ask?")

Why do you see such questions as insensitive? If you transitioned in full view of everyone, and if your colleagues are well read enough to know about Boylan, they might think that her work would strike a chord with you. A Boylan reference strikes me as discreet.

I've had a couple of people at school ask me if I've heard of so-and-so's transition, and I don't take offense. If a colleague came up and asked me really personal questions about my transition, then I would definitely be ticked.

My take on it, of course. Your mileage apparently varies.

[Jane's Sweet Refrain]

Why do you see such questions as insensitive? If you transitioned in full view of everyone, and if your colleagues are well read enough to know about Boylan, they might think that her work would strike a chord with you. A Boylan reference strikes me as discreet.

I've had a couple of people at school ask me if I've heard of so-and-so's transition, and I don't take offense. If a colleague came up and asked me really personal questions about my transition, then I would definitely be ticked.

My take on it, of course. Your mileage apparently varies.

I really admire your view and it's probably healthier than mine. And perhaps 'insensitive' is too harsh. I guess my sensitivity issues from my seeing trans as something others have identified me as being and not something I identify as myself. I identify as a woman (and I'm not saying that others do not), and it causes me pain to be marked as different from any other woman. I have no animosity towards the well-meaning colleagues who have asked such questions (the "hey, did you hear the piece on NPR about voice feminization?" etc), but sting and prick they do. 

You might find this funny, but it's my ex-wife (and my great friend) who gets the questions that are more personal from colleagues? Is Jane dating? Does she date men or women? Has she had "the surgery"? Her response has been, "You should ask her? Do you want me to let her know you are asking?"

[Cindy]

Why do you see such questions as insensitive? If you transitioned in full view of everyone, and if your colleagues are well read enough to know about Boylan, they might think that her work would strike a chord with you. A Boylan reference strikes me as discreet.

I've had a couple of people at school ask me if I've heard of so-and-so's transition, and I don't take offense. If a colleague came up and asked me really personal questions about my transition, then I would definitely be ticked.

My take on it, of course. Your mileage apparently varies.

I really admire your view and it's probably healthier than mine. And perhaps 'insensitive' is too harsh. I guess my sensitivity issues from my seeing trans as something others have identified me as being and not something I identify as myself. I identify as a woman (and I'm not saying that others do not), and it causes me pain to be marked as different from any other woman. I have no animosity towards the well-meaning colleagues who have asked such questions (the "hey, did you hear the piece on NPR about voice feminization?" etc), but sting and prick they do. 

You might find this funny, but it's my ex-wife (and my great friend) who gets the questions that are more personal from colleagues? Is Jane dating? Does she date men or women? Has she had "the surgery"? Her response has been, "You should ask her? Do you want me to let her know you are asking?"

I can see both sides. But I have to admit my self identification, and I hope those of my colleagues, as a women does not preclude that fact that I was trans.
I do get several of my colleagues asking questions on how to deal with trans*students who they think may need help. They ask if they can refer them to me if they wish to explore their issues and/or seek support.

I take no offence at that, I just regard it as part of my job; OK maybe a rather unique part but I am a resource on trans*issues due to my past.

[Jane's Sweet Refrain]

I can see both sides. But I have to admit my self identification, and I hope those of my colleagues, as a women does not preclude that fact that I was trans.
I do get several of my colleagues asking questions on how to deal with trans*students who they think may need help. They ask if they can refer them to me if they wish to explore their issues and/or seek support.

I take no offence at that, I just regard it as part of my job; OK maybe a rather unique part but I am a resource on trans*issues due to my past.

Thanks, Cindy. I just hope that I don't come across as having a side that needs to be promoted as a rule for others. It's my silly hypersensitivity.  And I would gladly help out a student (and already twice have) or colleague who was struggling with gender dysphoria. Given the genuine harassment and even violence  of our sisters in the community suffer, my complaint about a colleague mentioning a book now seems a bit insensitive to others. I'll have to think more about my responses. A second cup of coffee might help.   

[Arch]

A second cup of coffee might help.

I'm about to brew my first and only.

But then, I use these huge Guinness pub mugs.